wpr
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14 years ago
McDonald seeks spot on Packers' line 


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Opportunities for cornerback Sam Shields and linebacker Frank Zombo came last year. Opportunity for Nick McDonald, the third member of the Green Bay Packers' 2010 class of rookie free agents, is right around the corner.

In what could be a free-for-all replacing Daryn Colledge at left guard, the anonymous McDonald is going to get one of the first shots to prove that he can protect Aaron Rodgers for a Super Bowl team.

"Everybody talks about Sam and Frank," coach Mike McCarthy said just before the lockout began. "But, I mean, this guy here. . . . I think he could be one of those guys when you say, 'Who made the biggest jump from year one to year two?' I think he has a very bright future."

Is it possible that McDonald, a two-year starter at Grand Valley State who spent most of his first season toiling at center but not playing a snap from scrimmage, could become a functional starter in just his second season?

First, he doesn't have a tough act to follow. Colledge was the unit's weak link for two straight years.

Second, McDonald, 6 feet 4 inches and 310 pounds, looks the part physically and takes care of his business like a pro, too.

"I think he has that kind of makeup and that kind of raw ability," McCarthy said. "As the year went on you just got excited. We really like his body type. I hope he's ready. He'd be the perfect guy."

The Packers probably would have taken Colledge back, but his lucrative free-agent deal with Arizona now forces them into action. Even if the coaches had said the job was open, Colledge's presence and durable past likely would have upheld the status quo.

In truth, Green Bay won a Super Bowl despite Colledge, not because of him.

As a pass protector, Colledge reacted pretty well against speed, was less effective against power and struggled picking up stunts. As a run blocker, he lacked the horsepower to displace a 3-technique defensive tackle and often was late to the second level.

"Daryn has been a good individual to have on the ballclub," offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said. "So we'll see how everything unfolds. I told our coaches we've got to have an open mind. It (depth chart) will be very fluid."

For years, personnel people said Colledge simply wasn't a tough guy. And until the Packers got a more physical left guard their running game probably was going to remain feckless.

If Colledge had an essential attribute, it was how he used his quick mind to read fronts and help left tackle Chad Clifton at the line.

Besides no playing time, McDonald's arms (311/8 inches) are considered rather short and his 40-yard time was a ho-hum 5.26 seconds (Colledge ran 5.06 in 2006). McDonald did 27 reps on the bench press compared to 22 for Colledge.

"He's a good athlete, a good fit for what we do," Philbin said. "Serious guy. Smart. It's going to be a big camp for him."

Philbin said it would be ideal to have two players, not three, competing full-bore at left guard. He just didn't know who they would be.

Besides McDonald, the other possibilities would seem to be T.J. Lang, sixth-round pick Caleb Schlauderaff, free agent Ray Dominguez and possibly top pick Derek Sherrod.

McCarthy, who says it's a telltale indicator if a player doesn't show major improvement in his second season, didn't see it from Lang. Spring wrist surgery ruined Lang's second off-season, and the lockout affected this one.

Early training camp will tell if Lang added the strength that the coaches considered a necessity. He is expected to swing between guard and right tackle.

"I always felt he was a guard," McCarthy said. "But you watch and he's very natural at tackle. He has a better feel out there, which is obvious. He has played more out there."

Schlauderaff is a down-and-dirty, ugly-body type of player with excellent natural strength and the ability to run and pull. The other rookie, Dominguez, has phenomenal bulk, long arms and is light on his feet. A starting tackle for three years at Arkansas, he will need to get in better shape.

The Packers were overjoyed that Sherrod fell to them at the bottom of the first round. He was drafted to be Clifton's successor at left tackle, the only position that he played at Mississippi State.

Sherrod, Philbin said, will begin camp on the left side. Based on the consensus of scouts, Sherrod doesn't seem to be a guard. At this point, he isn't that strong, he isn't that physical and he isn't that thickly built.

His pluses - athleticism, arm length, intelligence, technique - suggest tackle, not guard.

In this strangest of camps, almost any move is plausible. Bryan Bulaga would appear to have a better chance than Sherrod at guard because he played there in 2007 at Iowa and has the stouter build.

Philbin, however, said he would prefer keeping Bulaga at right tackle, mainly because he's just 22 years old and was adequate in 16 starts there.

Like McDonald, Marshall Newhouse made the team as a rookie but never played. Clearly, he was better at left tackle than guard last August. His feet are good, his power was marginal. He has to be more aggressive.

Josh Sitton and center Scott Wells were the unit's two best players in the previous two seasons. Each has a year left on his contract.

"Sitton reminds me of a young (Steve) Hutchinson," an NFC scout said in November. "He stumbles around a little bit like Hutchinson but he's a tremendous anchor. He's not going to be real active in the secondary, but you're not going to line up in front of him and beat him with strength."

Philbin praised Sitton's pass blocking and said his run blocking was good, too, although he'd like to see Sitton generate more movement at the point of attack.

The Packers tried to replace Wells with departed Jason Spitz in summer 2009. When injuries struck, Wells replied with his two finest seasons. Because of his commitment and field savvy, Wells' coaches have always appreciated his play more than outsiders.

"There's a lot of centers like Wells," one scout said late last season. "I think they've been concerned about his size, but he ties things together well. I don't think Wells is mean, but he is a battler."

Clifton, 35, allowed a career-high eight sacks and 29½ pressures. He isn't as automatic in protection as he once was.

Over the last six games, however, Clifton allowed just one sack against a succession of elite rushers.

"He's gifted coming out of that stance - not a lot of guys like that," Philbin said. "We'd like him to be a little quicker in the run game sometimes. I'm hopeful we can (get another year from him)."

Last year, the same five started the final 16 games.


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beast
14 years ago
I liked the article for the most part but dislike how they just overlooked Lang. And all the players had to deal with the lockout. Lang did regress because of that wrist surgery and not being able to work fully for a good while. But by the end of the season he looked close to back to him old self. In 3 drives against Peppers in the NFC Champs game when Clifton got banged up, Peppers clearly won one which most remember but Lang clearly one as well when MM ran the ball a lot on a drive and I believe it ended in the endzone. The other drive there wasn't a clear winner but I think Lang had the edge as Peppers didn't effect the plays too much.

Philbin said it would be ideal to have two players, not three, competing full-bore at left guard. He just didn't know who they would be.



My guess is most likely Lang vs. McDonald... Lang needs to get more power in his drive blocking and punch. I think Lang does move the best of any OL. He looks like an over sized FB when going to the 2nd Level and blocking a LB, which probably would be prefect for screens, pulling, trapping or going after LBers... I've wanted to see Lang as a FB in short yardages but they got Raji to do it instead (not a bad choice ether)
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nerdmann
14 years ago
Just as long as they don't play musical chairs.
“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”
beast
14 years ago

Just as long as they don't play musical chairs.

Originally Posted by: nerdmann 



Would you prefer them to play red rover or steal the bacon?


:-"
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wpr
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14 years ago

Would you prefer them to play red rover or steal the bacon?


:-"

Originally Posted by: beast 


excellent 👍 Silly me I was thinking of kick the can. Shows you what I know.
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bozz_2006
14 years ago
Definitely Red Rover.
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wpr
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14 years ago
I am sure it will all work out but I have some reservations about starting Mc Donald at LG. It doesn’t make sense to me to start a second year player who is from a Division II team on OL when he has to defend Rodgers from the likes of Suh and others. Especially when he didn’t even play a down last year and didn't get the OTA this year. Maybe in another year.

I originally thought they may slid Sherrod in there for the year before moving him on to LT. But if he does not have the build of a guard and is not physically strong enough it doesn’t matter how smart he is or what his techniques are. They will man handle him and push him back into AR.

Schlauderaff and Dominguez won’t be the answer either. They just don’t have the experience to line up there game in and game out. And they too didn’t get the chance to learn in the OTA’s.

By default it seems it will be Lang filling the gap. This may not be such a bad thing anyway.
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Nonstopdrivel
14 years ago

Definitely Red Rover.

Originally Posted by: bozz_2006 


Try teaching the game of Red Rover to a bunch of Germans. The results are hilarious. The kids love it, but the adults seem to have reservations because it's "too violent."[aiee]

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bozz_2006
14 years ago
Pussies...

Anyway. You've gotta think that McCarthy wants Lang to perform. I wonder if he's using these comments to motivate Lang.
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wpr
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14 years ago

Try teaching the game of Red Rover to a bunch of Germans. The results are hilarious. The kids love it, but the adults seem to have reservations because it's "too violent."[aiee]

Originally Posted by: Nonstopdrivel 




They must not have Prussian in their blood.
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